need help on 1500 upgrade..

[mazdarocket]

hello, i bought a gmc c2500 full box truck that im parting out for the drive train from my 84 buick.. .. my room mate had a wild thoought pop into his head that he might be able to use the c2500 suspention parts ie, front brakes control arms ect as well the rear axel... now not one to back down from a chalage i thoght this whuold be cool to upgrade a good looking good running chevy k1500 to a 2500 is this a dream or can this really be done...?

the years are:
1989 gmc 2500 chyanne
going into
1994 chev 1500

i have pics posted on my blog.. for my buick but if you need to have a look

WTF…. Blog

[chevyguy]

Yip , its a direct bolt on.

[1500cheyenne96]

The parts will fit but i wouldn't go loading and treating like a 2500 cause the frames are different the 2500 frame is thicker and stronger than the 1500 one

[mazdarocket]

thx, guys.... all we tend to load on it is a 1500lb slide in camper we just need the extra spring and braking power...

[chevyguy]

Are you sure about the frame thing? I have done several swaps in thes truck from 1500 to 2500 and never noticed any differnce in the frame thickness . Might have an added crossmember, but the frames are the exact same if I remember correctly.

[1500cheyenne96]

Yes I am the frame gets thicker at the load point on the 2500's a stays thicker froward of that. The load point being right about 3-4 inches behind the cab from there back they are pretty much they same maybe a cross member added here and there. The thickness difference is marginal maybe a 1/8 in. at the most but its there

[chevyguy]

I have a 2500 and a 1500 at the shop and I took a quick look I didnt see any differences in thickness of the frame. the 1500 is a 93 and the 2500 is a 91. Seems Odd.

[1500cheyenne96]

well they are slightly thicker that information came directly form the Gm proving grounds SPO building i had a friend who works there look it up cause i was thinking about sectioning in a chunk of 2500 frame to my cracked 1500 frame there are no differences in the back half but the differences start right at that load point(3-4 inches behind the cab) and continuing froward to the front i can have him print the specs tomorrow and post it tomorrow night if you like

[1500cheyenne96]

Just an up-date on the frame specs i talked to my friend this morning and he re-looked up the specs he had originally given me All of the parts from the front gas tank cross member back the part numbers interchange between 1/2, 3/4 tons except the rear leaf springs, they do however not interchange with 1 tons. From the front gas tank cross member froward none of the part numbers inter change between 1/2 and 3/4 tons this means the trans cross member the torsion bar mounts, torsion bars, bushings,sway bar and sway bar link, front frame cross members and the entire front suspension and the frame rail sections. the thickness differences while not apparent to the naked eye are there they start right at the frame load point and continue froward the differences while thousandths of an inch to a 1/16 of a inch in spots are substantial differences in frame strength and frame load capability. he also went as far to mention that GM spent millions if not billions if R&D for these frames and if they could have used the same frame for 1/2 and 3/4 tons they would have. Now for the real kicker the frame part numbers for 1/2 and 3/4 trucks will only interchange with the following model years 1988-1992, 1992-1995, 1996-1998, 1999 and 2000 for 3/4 ton classic models.

[chevyguy]

I dont think the frame rails are different, just used different crossmembers. Still dont think the frame rails doffer from 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton. I checked abin on the bare frmaes adn even with a micrometer i couldnt see any difference between the thickness of the frame material.